This act lowered the cost of tea from the British East India company so it would be cheaper than smuggled tea. It taxed the tea at its source so there wouldn't have to be tax collection in the colonies. Since the tea could now go directly to the colonies instead of having to be imported to Britain, the tea became affordable, even with the 3d tax. This established monopolies in America and caused American merchants to struggle.
Colonists' Reaction
The colonists were furious. The Tea Act caused one of the most well known acts of protest in American History, the Boston Tea Party. A group of about 200 men disguised themselves as Indians, boarded the British tea ships and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor.
The Tea Act (1773)
This act lowered the cost of tea from the British East India company so it would be cheaper than smuggled tea. It taxed the tea at its source so there wouldn't have to be tax collection in the colonies. Since the tea could now go directly to the colonies instead of having to be imported to Britain, the tea became affordable, even with the 3d tax. This established monopolies in America and caused American merchants to struggle.
Colonists' Reaction
The colonists were furious. The Tea Act caused one of the most well known acts of protest in American History, the Boston Tea Party. A group of about 200 men disguised themselves as Indians, boarded the British tea ships and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor.